Monday, February 3, 2014

The 2015 Hyundai Genesis was one of the vehicles on display during Super Bowl XLVIII

There are two kinds of people that watch the Super Bowl every year - the kind that watch it for the game and the kind that watch it for the commercials.

For those that watched the game, Super Bowl XLVIII was probably a letdown (the final score was a blowout with the Seattle Seahawks embarrassing the Denver Broncos 43-8). But for those that watched the commercials, it was undoubtedly a good year. Hyundai spared no expense in airing not one but TWO ads during the big game - a goofy ad featuring Johnny Galecki from "The Big Bang Theory" for the 2014 Hyundai Elantra and a more light-hearted commercial with a concerned father for the 2015 Hyundai Genesis. Let's take a closer look at each ad:

1) 2014 Hyundai Elantra - "Nice"

What starts out as a harmless comment to another driver on the road ("Nice ride") turns Johnny Galecki's day into anything but ordinary. When Galecki compliments the 2014 Hyundai Elantra for its "nice acceleration," our female companion responds with "nice detonation" - leading to a series of explosions that Galecki is somehow able to avoid thanks to his own 2014 Hyundai Elantra. "Nice handling" leads to "nice rambling," with comedian Richard Lewis commenting on and on from Galecki's backseat. "Nice playlist" corresponds with "nice plot twist" as a ramp and flaming hoops suddenly appear to send Galecki and his 2014 Hyundai Elantra flying. In the end, you can't help but look at the 2014 Hyundai Elantra in flight and say one thing - "Nice!" Ad agency Innocean nailed an ad that showed the awesome driving and fun that can be had behind the wheel of a 2014 Hyundai Elantra.

2) 2015 Hyundai Genesis - "Dad's Sixth Sense"

A good dad always wants to be there to protect his kids. But when the situation is beyond his control, the 2015 Hyundai Genesis can step in and do its part as this touching commercial shows. We start out with a child always looking for trouble and a father that always manages to keep his son narrowly out of harm's way. A brick wall, a kid on a swing set, a truck, a tumble off of a cliff, a red hot grill, an errant piñata bat - this dad looks like a superhero as he manages to save his son at the last second every time as he grows up. But finally, he reaches that age that parents dread - learning how to drive. A father can do his best, but when the son gets distracted by a pretty girl, it is ultimately the 2015 Hyundai Genesis' Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system that comes in to save the father and son from hitting another vehicle. This commercial from Innocean goes to show that we ultimately can't keep our kids from growing up, but at least we'll have help in keeping them safe thanks to the 2015 Hyundai Genesis.

What did you think of this year's ads? Which one was your favorite? Be sure to let us know here as well as on our Facebook and Google+ pages. In the meantime, you can find more information about the 2014 Hyundai Elantra and the 2015 Hyundai Genesis on our website.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

If you don't have experience driving on icy roads, it be a real danger.

Here in Texas, we've been experiencing an unusual streak of cold weather, which has left roads icy and conditions dangerous.

The amount of accidents due to the weather in the last couple of days is insane. In Austin, more than 300 accidents have been reported in the last couple of days. The Houston Fire Department alone responded to 151 accidents in just six hours. It doesn't take rocket science to see who the culprit is. Texas drivers aren't used to driving in icy conditions (you won't find snow tires anywhere in this state) and the cities aren't equipped to make the roads safe in freezing temperatures. The fact that school buses can't handle the weather and that districts are closing classrooms in conditions that would make Northern states laugh show that all the Lone Star State needs is a little lesson on how get through a particularly rough winter.

We don't want you to wreck your new Hyundai, so South Point Hyundai is here with some tips on how to drive safely in icy conditions:

1) Regular Service

You should always keep your car up-to-date with regular service, but this rings especially true in colder weather. Make sure your battery, cooling system and windshield wipers are equipped to handle a rough winter. If you need more convincing, think about how much more money it would cost to tow or repair your vehicle than to just do regular maintenance.

2) Practice, Practice, Practice

The reason drivers outside of the South are better able to handle icy conditions on the roads is that they have more practice than you do. Go to an empty parking lot or a quiet area of a neighborhood when the conditions are slick to learn how to brake safely, accelerate, turn and more. You'll thank yourself later when you're the best driver on the road!

3) Double the Distance

Your car is going to take longer to respond in icy conditions, so put more distance (we recommend double the normal distance) between you and the car in front of you. Keep scanning the vehicles in front of you and look out for brake lights. The less you have to slam on your brakes, the more likely you'll go accident-free.

4) Ease Up

If you're constantly slipping when accelerating from a standstill, ease up on the accelerator. Give your tires a chance to "catch" the road by slowly putting pressure on the gas. If you have an automatic transmission put the selector lever to 2.

5) Slow And Careful

The big problem with driving on ice is just how unpredictable it can be. You don't expect to slide around just like you don't expect to slip on ice on the sidewalk! Be slow and careful. Anticipate turns and stops so you can approach them gently and do not accelerate into turns.

6) Braking

When braking, look ahead and plan in advance, apply the brakes gently and slowly add pressure until you come to a complete stop. If your car is equipped with anti-lock brakes, stop the car quickly by applying firm constant pressure to the brake pedal.

7) Skidding

When the rear tires lose traction and you skid, here's what you need to do. Let up on the gas and gently turn your wheels in the direction you want to go. Be careful not to over correct and do not re-apply the gas until you are heading in the direction you want to go.

8) Ease Off The Throttle

If your car is not turning how you want it to, try easing up on the gas into the turn. Whatever you do, do not panic and turn sharper into the corner if you go too wide.

9) Hydroplaning

Gently take your off foot off of the gas without letting go completely to regain control of your vehicle when you hydroplane.

10) Hills

Whenever on an icy hill, do not brake if you don't have to - going uphill or downhill. Speed up slightly before going up a hill to give you momentum, and slow down if you are approaching to go down a hill. On steep declines, coast as long as you can, but don't let your car get out of control. Apply the brake when necessary to keep your speed to a manageable level.

11) De-Icing

If your windshield is covered in ice, do not put hot water on it! That could shatter your windshield. Instead, turn your engine on and let the defroster run for 5-10 minutes. Once the ice begins to melt, use an ice scraper to get it off. If you don't have an ice scraper, a spatula is a decent substitute.

That's it! What did you think of our tips? Would you add any more? Let us know here as well as on our Facebook and Google+ pages. If you are looking into getting a new or used Hyundai for 2014, check out our full inventory on our website.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety doesn't make it easy to get one of their top rankings.

Keeping all passengers in a vehicle safe is the IIHS's top priority, which means each car goes through a full battery of tests. They even instituted a new test this year called the "small overlap" test, which simulates hitting a tree or light pole with one corner of the car. To give you an idea of how hard it is to come out the other side of these tests with flying colors, check this out - only 38 2014 model vehicles got one of the two highest grades awarded by the IIHS. Last year over 130 models got one of these grades!

The rules are more strict, and less cars are able to make the cut - which is why we're excited to announce that the 2014 Hyundai Elantra is an IIHS Top Safety Pick. Out of five possible grading criteria, The 2014 Hyundai Elantra received "Good"(the top score) on four criteria and "Acceptable" (the second best score) on the other. When it comes to being safe in the event of a car accident, you can't do much better than the 2014 Hyundai Elantra.

You can actually go on the IIHS website to learn more about all the details that go into crash testing a vehicle like the 2014 Hyundai Elantra. It's pretty neat, so you should definitely check it out. In the meantime, be sure to let us know if you plan on getting a 2014 Hyundai Elantra below or on our Facebook and Google+ pages. If you are interested, be sure to check out our full inventory of Elantras on our website.